The semi-weekly fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1886-1887, 1887-10-07
LAYING THE CORNERSTONE.
REPORTED BY OUR BUSINESS MANAGER

REPORTED BY OUR BUSINESS MANAGER
Saturday, October the LIST. was
big day in Windsor. The people Of
old Berthe turned out in full force to
witness the laying Of the Cornerstone
of the new Court House, building
Judging from the drawn plan we saw
displayed) of pleasing proportions
and excellant architectural beauty.
The large procession, formed at the
Masonic hall and lead by the Edenton
Cornet Band, marched through sew
eral of the principal streets and then
to the Grand Stand in the Court yard.
where the exercises appointed for the
occasion were had. The Grand Mar
shall opened the ceremony, making q
few appropriate and well-timed re-
marks, which were followed with
prayer by the Worthy Chaplain; after
which the stone was slowly lowered
to its destined place in the structure
while the band played soft and
beautiful air. The stone dropped in
it it's bed at IL NJ. The Masonic
fraternity then went through with the
form usual on such occasions, that of
depositing a box containing tokens.
etc., of the present. The following
are some Of the articles deposited {:
The Grafton delivered on the occasion
by F. D. Winston. A copy of the
Windsor Public Ledger containing reso-
lutions of respect in memory of w. T.
Gurley, late w. NJ, of Charity Lodge
No. 5, A. F. and A. M. A copy of the
Act of Legislature authorizing the
rebuilding of the BERTHE Court House.
A photograph of L. s. Webb Esq, the
oldest citizen of the town of Windsor.
A photograph of the former Court
House. The names of the Presidents
and Vice Presidents of the United States.
the names of the officers of the State of
of BERTHE county, the names of the
officers of the town OF Windsor.
Mr.. Frank D. Winston, the orator
Of the day, was introduced and TO
some time held his audience wrapped
in admiration of his eloquence as he
spoke Of the past, hailed the present
and painted the future. The follow
ing facts from the address we noted
with interest.
The County of BERTHE was established
in 1922 by the General assembly in
session at Queen Annes creek, near
Edenton. It was carved out of Abe
marie county and embraced all that part
of Albemarle county lying on the west
Northward by the line dividing the
government from Virginia and to the
Sothward by the Albemarle sound and
Morattuck (now Roanoke) river as far
up as Welches' creek and then including
both sides of the said river and the
branches thereof as far as the limit of
the government.
In 1741 a part of the upper boundary
of BERTHE was formed into the County
of North Hampton. In 1854 the North
ern end was made the County of Hert-
ford, and all of that part on the west
side of Roanoke river was added to the
County of Edgecomb.
The County Seat of BERTHE precinct in
1922 was established near st. Johns
now in Hartford county. In 1742 the
seat of government for the county was
located at Wellington, two miles north
of Windsor on the Cashie river, at Wills
Quarter Bridge. In 1874 Windsor was
made the county seat-it having become
an incorporated town in 1857. The old
Court House was commenced in 1875
and work was suspended on it by reason
Of the Revolutionary war. It was COM
pleted in 1888. The two wings were
added in 1922. The contract for build
ing the new Court House was let out in
June 1887.
After the speech of Mr.. Winston
dinner was announced.
There were two tables. one at the
hotel for the ladies and one on the
grounds in the rear of hotel for gen.
slemen. The Masons were marched
10 their hall by the band. After
dinner the Lewiston Band and
Edenton Band occupied the upper
porch of the American hotel and en-
;ertained the crowd for the evening. !
The whole affair was conducted in
! most admirable way rejecting I'M
old credit upon it's managers and !!
'etokening noble public spirit on !
he part of the entire people.